All season fun car for less than £5k

[LeonT93]

I always hear the time to buy a sporty or unusual car is in the winter !

Any suggestions for a fun, unusual or sporty car that can be run all year ( less of course over winter )

It will only be used occasionally so I guess way less than 5k miles

An obvious starter for 10 would be the Audi TT Quattro or VW Golf GTi Mk5 both of which can easily be bought for less than £5k

I'd be really interested to see whats suggested whether its sporty, fun or 'different' lol

thanks

[Killer2005]

MX-5.

[SAS Tom]

Would recommend a TT but with the caveat of it’ll want some modifications to make it fun. Just about getting there with mine now and it’s fun even in the wet, loads of grip all the time. It’s been fun on winter tyres in the snow and ice too.

[CG2020UK]

Peugeot 208 GTI

Brilliant hot hatches and nice places to be.

Good reliability as well provided it’s serviced (not the same Prince engine in the mini that goes boom!).

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411166...

[Truckosaurus]

I've just bought a 1.6 Suzuki Swift Sport for less than the OP's budget. Most fun I've had in years (maybe since I had a 'classic' Mini back in the last century).

Japanese reliability and most mod-cons (climate, Xenons, etc) but not fast off from the lights if that bothers you (buy an EV if you want that).

(or get an MX5 and some winter tyres)

[DD3566]

MK3 Toyota MR2? Huge fun on a back road, and with good tyres they aren't the snap-over steering deathtrap people would have you believe! I've always found mine very predictable and easy to drive quickly in all weathers. The MX5 will always be easier to drive, but I personally found the MR2 to be way more rewarding. Another bonus is that they seem to rust less than equivalent MX5's, the rear subframe is the weak link to watch out for, but replacements aren't too expensive

They make for a good budget track car too!

[DaveyBoyWonder]

My normal sub £5k answer for everything - Mini R53. £5k will get a really good one. TBH, £3k should get a good one and leave some pennies for mods!

[LeonT93]

My wife and bought a mini about 8 years ago and it lasted 3 months. My wife hated it especially the interior styling so sadly cant be on the list but thanks

[blueovercream]

I’ve often found myself tempted by the Panda 100hp

[Acuity30]

At least double your budget, everything is woeful around that price.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

You might be able to get a Subaru Impreza WRX for that money - just watch for rust. They rust from the inside out so if it's got rusty rear arches the whole back end will be gone. Also, anything highly tuned that's still on the 5 speed box - the STIs didn't get the 6 speed just as a way to differentiate the specs.

Anything under £4k is a rolling project, mine was. Good owners groups on Facebook and surprisingly are ULEZ compliant around the UK.

Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Tuesday 14th January 17:52

[SAS Tom]

Acuity30 said:

At least double your budget, everything is woeful around that price.

Give over, plenty of good cars 5k or less.

[Acuity30]

SAS Tom said:

Give over, plenty of good cars 5k or less.

Yea, rotters. Nothing you'd be able to keep longterm without big repair bills and rust treatment

[ZX10R NIN]

Focus ST-3 a more fun & still practical option than the VAG options listed:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412036...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501127...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407031...

208 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501127...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411166...

Abarth 595:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412137...

It's a CAT but do your checks & this GTC VXR could be a good buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409144...

Cupra Leon:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412047...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411096...

R26:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501037...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501037...

[Evanivitch]

Killer2005 said:

MX-5.

And a good welder.

[SAS Tom]

Acuity30 said:

SAS Tom said:

Give over, plenty of good cars 5k or less.

Yea, rotters. Nothing you'd be able to keep longterm without big repair bills and rust treatment

All depends on what you buy doesn’t it. No way you need to spend 10k to get a good car.

[OutInTheShed]

LeonT93 said:

I always hear the time to buy a sporty or unusual car is in the winter !

Any suggestions for a fun, unusual or sporty car that can be run all year ( less of course over winter )

It will only be used occasionally so I guess way less than 5k miles

An obvious starter for 10 would be the Audi TT Quattro or VW Golf GTi Mk5 both of which can easily be bought for less than £5k

I'd be really interested to see whats suggested whether its sporty, fun or 'different' lol

thanks

Alfa GTV.
Suzuki Jimny
BMW X3
BMW Z3
Morris Minor
Some random kit car from ebay?


It comes down to your concept of sporty, different and fun.
There are some OK cars from 20 years ago in budget, but many of them are starting to rust badly now.
In my book, £5k is a lot for a car that might be terminal in 2 years. Other opinions are available for free.
You can get a Z3 for £2k. Is that 'fun'? Maybe yes on a B road, not so much on a motorway?
Will you have 'fun' keeping it roadworthy?

[defblade]

Done thos twice now.

First time, £2200 on an E46 'vert, ran it for 6 months, sold for £1800, cost me nothing other than petrol, insurance, tax. Would be a great all-year round only car tbf.

Just done it again, an '04 SL500, £4800. Haven't used it at all except to drive home, and it's already costing me a few quid getting things sorted on it, but as it's not my first car and I enjoy working on them (so long as they don't have to be running by Monday morning to get mne to work), that's fun too. And it will be fun once it is sorted!

Just follow your nose and pick something that makes your trouser area tingle rather than ticking off a load of sensible boxes.

[griffter]

These seem quite rare now, but pop up from time to time. This one looks ok - Primera GT:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126881471560

[jaydeeuk1]

DD3566 said:

MK3 Toyota MR2? Huge fun on a back road, and with good tyres they aren't the snap-over steering deathtrap people would have you believe! I've always found mine very predictable and easy to drive quickly in all weathers. The MX5 will always be easier to drive, but I personally found the MR2 to be way more rewarding. Another bonus is that they seem to rust less than equivalent MX5's, the rear subframe is the weak link to watch out for, but replacements aren't too expensive

They make for a good budget track car too!

Mr2 is a good shout, I use mine all year round apart from when icy/roads gritted, owned it nearly 20 years (2000 reg) and so far no rust other than the alloys which I refurbed a few years ago. As well as good tyres, the sizes are staggered. I've seen some cars wjth same size tyres all round which is where people suddenly find the limit with no notice. I find the toyos decent enough. Been utterly faultless in that time. Recently treated it to new timing chain, oil pump, water pump, suspension bushes and some other bits to keep it going another 25 years. Good job the likes of VW and Peugeot exist otherwise mechanics would go bust up and down the country.

If you do decide to track it get the later version as I think long high G left hand bends can cause oil starvation.